In Defense of Keira

Ever since Jak II, there has been a lot of hatred directed at Keira for her behavior toward Jak. I am here to present my interpretation and defense of why she acted the way she did.

Her first transgression in the eyes of haters was her first reaction to seeing Jak (“Jak, you look…different”). I see and hear much more in these words than her haters do. I think that in the first few moments, she was just happy to see him again, and she was about to say he looked great; but when she saw the strange hardness in his eyes, she stopped in her tracks. The change in him from their days in Sandover was obvious, and it immediately threw her for a loop. If I were in her shoes, I doubt I would have simply thrown myself into Jak’s arms (even though I find him very attractive and am a gung-ho Jak/Keira shipper).

Let’s also keep in mind that Jak is not the only one whose world has been shattered. I don’t know what happened to Keira in the first two years, but can you imagine being hurled into a strange world and having no idea where any of your friends or loved ones were, or even whether they were still alive? During that time, she probably felt frightened and alone. Finding Jak and Daxter again was not only a reunion with friends, but also a chance to recover a part of her old life. When she realized how much Jak had changed, however, she saw that chance vanish after seeming to be within reach. Understandably, she was disappointed, sad, and even angry – angry at the situation, that is. However, it is much easier to be angry with a person than at a situation, so she took out her frustration on Jak; it was wrong, but it was also human.

Those who criticize Keira for suddenly liking Jak again after he had saved the world clearly either cannot – or will not – read between the lines in certain scenes. When she told Jak that he, not Erol, was the best racer she had ever seen, she meant much more; her voice and expression make this clear. She still could not bring herself to state her true feelings, but she was trying to tell Jak that he meant more to her than Erol ever could. I also picked up true concern for his safety when she told him to be careful at the Metal Head nest.

I look forward to your reactions and comments.


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"An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind."
-Mahatma Gandhi